The Right Of Self-Defence In The UK

"Gun control extremists have at least two things in common with Islamic extremists. They have a willingness to die for their fundamental beliefs, and the sanctimony to demand that others die with them."—Dr. Mike Adams

Leicestershire, UK. In the early morning hours of Sunday, September 2, Andy and Tracey Ferrie were sleeping in their home when intruders forced their way in. While his wife Tracie called 999, (UK equivalent of 911) Andy Ferrie grabbed his legally-owned break-action shotgun and fired at two of the four home invaders.

The attack was thwarted although Ferrie had injured two of criminals. The four burglars, ranging in ages from 23, 27, 31, and 33, were later arrested at Leicester Royal Infirmary where the injured had been taken for treatment of their wounds

As for Andie and Tracie Ferry? They were arrested and held over by the Crown Prosecution Service on a charge of Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH), to the burglars— despite this couple having been the victims of burglaries multiple times!

My friends across the pond have often lamented to me that when a break-in such as this occurs, under British Law, few options exist other than to simply passively comply with such burglars for fear of legal jeopardy, despite being the victims of crime. It is truly remarkable that not only does the UK have tight gun restrictions, but UK law, as evidenced here, appears to actually protect criminals from immediate consequence!

Or does it?

Burglars Joshua O’Gorman and Daniel Mansell pleaded guilty and then asked the Court for leniency because they got shot. Queen's Council, Judge Michael Pert responded,

 "I make it plain that, in my judgment, being shot is not mitigation. If you burgle a house in the country where the householder owns a legally held shotgun, that is the chance you take. You cannot come to court and ask for a lighter sentence because of it."

O'Gorman whined to the Leicester Crown Court that as a result of his being shot he was left with blurred vision, severe pain and problems with his balance...and that he, "was traumatized."

Judge Pert's response....

“Some might argue that being arrested and locked up for 40 hours is a trauma.”

Judge Pert went on to say the arrest of Mr. and Mrs. Ferrie on suspicion of grievous bodily harm is just as disturbing.

Judge Pert did not stand alone. Lord Chief Justice Lord Judge opined,

If your home is burgled and you're in there, you have a right to get rid of the burglar."

The Lord Chief Justice continued, citing Sir Edward Coke,"Your Home is your castle"

Alan Duncan, MP - Rutland and Melton was a very vocal supporter of the Ferries.

"If this is a straightforward case of someone using a shotgun to defend themselves against burglars in the dead of night, then I would hope that the police will prosecute the burglars and not my constituents."

Anti-Gun Liberals: You lose!

This incident serves as a very stark example of a country whose very purpose in stamping out gun crime and reducing gun violence has run amok, letting criminals and thugs rule by force. Now, however, this would appear to be a backlash for ordinary, law-abiding citizens to embrace a fundamental and natural right of self defense, a tenet inherent in our very human natures.

It is too early to tell, but one cannot help but wonder if UK citizens have had about enough of crime and being victims and now are going to fight back and reclaim society for themselves.

In year 2011 Britain had 1,361 violent crimes per 100,000 people. That is three times the U.S. Crime Rate.

While the UK murder rate, at 1.3 per 100,000 is lower than that of the U.S., at 4.7 per 100,000, Such comparisons are not an, "apples to apples" comparisons. Fact is, the United States has 186 areas where the urban population is >250,000 people. That is six times that of the U.K., with only 32 metros where the population is >250,000 people.

Since 1992 the U.S. violent rate of crime has plummeted 50 per cent. The U.S. Murder rate is down 54 per cent. That has happened in the face of U.S. is gun ownership skyrocketing over the last 20 years.

In 1992, roughly ten states legally allowed their citizens to carry firearms for personal protection. By 2011, the number spiked to nearly 40 states and women are the fastest growing segment of society to own guns.

In 2012, countless citizens used firearms to thwart violent crime. Many instances they did so without a shot ever being fired. On December 30, in my entry, The Armed Citizen and Lying Gun Grabbers, I detailed ten such examples. I freely admit that I cherry-picked people over the age of 65, (many of which were women,) who defended themselves with firearms. The examples of voluminous, but the lame stream media will not report on it. Local and regional media are the only sources.

Lets be real clear. The details in this story are but one anecdote. The statistics are not and can be found at FBI.gov. CDC statistics are flawed because they advocate for gun control—a government-funded agency with a clear gun control agenda. But the anecdote here supports the statistics, the right of self defense and common sense.

Undeniably, a firearm possessed by a frail 79-year old woman places her on even par with a 210-pound thug who has just kicked in her door in the dead of night. That is just another hard cold fact that is ignored in the faux "happy little world of liberals" and lives in a real-life world where thugs can rule the day in an unarmed defenseless society.

Liberals advocate gun control, abolition of the death penalty, limitless spending on so-called rehabilitation of criminals, given their distaste for punishment or accountability at the cost of citizens unable to defend themselves. Liberals seek to make the stakes low for those who choose crime as a way of life under a quixotic notion that every societal ill can be fixed with the money of others. Don't believe me? Okay. Just ask any law-abiding UK citizen or Aussie. Remember, in 2011 in the UK, violent crime rate was 1,361 per 100,000 people....Home Office Statistic, not mine. Ask them...they live it.

CROSS-POSTED AT GRANITE GROK

You Can't Hunt With That!

"The gun control extremist has at least two things in common with the Islamic extremist. He has a willingness to die for his fundamental beliefs. And he has the sanctimony to demand that others go with him." —Dr. Mike Adams

The Remington R-15…Chambered in “30 RAR(introduced in 2009)” Designed for…yes…well…”Hunting….”

Gun Free New Hampshire House

"The D.C. gun ban works - just ask James Brady..."

To follow up on Steve Mac Donald's post the other day...

Should it have been a surprise that these six RINO's voted the way they did? No. We already had hard evidence they could not be counted upon as evidenced by the pre-election grade assigned by the NRA.

Rep. Dennis Fields (R)INO Belknap 4 -Sanbornton; NRA Grade: C

Not necessarily a passing grade. A candidate with a mixed record or positions on gun related issues, who may oppose some pro-gun positions or support some restrictive legislation.

Karel A. Crawford, (R)INO, Carroll 4 - Center Harbor; NRA Grade: ?

"?"Refused to answer the NRA-PVF Candidate Questionnaire, often an indication of indifference, if not outright hostility, to gun owners' and sportsmen's rights.

Carolyn M. Gargacz, (R)INO, Hillsborough 27 - Hollis; NRA Grade: C+

RINO HISTORY

Not necessarily a passing grade. A candidate with a mixed record or positions on gun related issues, who may oppose some pro-gun positions or support some restrictive legislation.

Priscilla P. Lockwood, (R)INO, Merrimack 9, - Canterbury; NRA Grade: B

RINO HISTORY

A generally pro-gun candidate. However, a "B" candidate may have opposed some pro-gun reform or supported some restrictive legislation in the past.

David H. Kidder, (R)INO, Merrimack 5, - New London; NRA Grade: D

RINO HISTORY

An anti-gun candidate who usually supports restrictive gun control legislation and opposes pro-gun reforms. Regardless of public statements, can usually be counted on to vote wrong on key issues.

Steve Vaillancourt (R)INO, Hillsborough 15, - South Manchester; NRA Grade B+

A generally pro-gun candidate. However, a "B" candidate may have opposed some pro-gun reform or supported some restrictive legislation in the past.

But there is good news...for now. And that good news is that the constitution means something because those who garnered favorable ratings from the NRA honored their grade. Vaillancourt, Lockwood, not so much...

There was no backstabbing, as there was in the last session where some lawmakers obtained an NRA A rating and then voted against most gun legislation. We all actually had some idea how this six would vote. And true to form, they did.

cross-posted at Granite Grok

The Armed Citizen And Lying Gun Grabbers

”A free people ought not only to be armed and disciplined, but they should have sufficient arms and ammunition to maintain a status of independence from any who might attempt to abuse them, which would include their own government.”—George Washington

Tiresome are liberals lying and telling people that if they arm themselves, then the criminal is only going to take away the gun and use it on them. Those who perpetuate that, ignore what happens everyday in this nation. The events below are true events that involve real people. Law abiding people going about the business of their daily lives until the point where some criminal interrupts them, threatening harm.

These events are reported at local levels (mostly Newsprint media) and rarely visited beyond that because they do not fit the anti-gun liberal lamestream media's advocacy of citizen disarmament.  Fact: every day law-abiding Americans use guns to stop crime against themselves and their families. As shown below, some criminals lose their lives. But NO CRIMINAL ever took a gun away from these lawfully armed citizens. 

The NRA-ILA made this post really easy for me as they have carefully catalogued all of the armed citizen events on their website. Below, are just 12 examples in just six months.

Gas station clerks shoot armed robber

Two clerks were operating a Sunoco gas station in Springfield Township, Ohio, when an armed robber entered the store and ordered one of the clerks to “go behind the counter and get me the money.” As the criminal went behind the counter he fired at the clerks, prompting the pair to retrieve a .40-caliber pistol and a shotgun and fire at the robber. Shots fired by both clerks struck the criminal, killing him.

A daily customer of the Sunoco station was puzzled as to why anyone would attempt to rob the store, telling local media, “I know everyone that works in there. They are all great guys. Everybody knows they have guns. That’s why I’m surprised someone tried to rob them. It does not make sense.” (The Cincinnati Enquirer, Cincinnati, Ohio 12/10/12)

Jewelry store owner combats violent criminals

Two masked and armed criminals entered Joyeria Vanessa jewelry store in San Jose, Calif. and demanded money from the owner. In response, the owner retrieved a pistol and fired at the robbers. The shots missed, but sent the criminals fleeing to a nearby getaway car. Police made clear that the woman had a right to defend herself. (KGO-TV, San Francisco, Calif. 11/26/2012)

Woman defends son and home from burglar

A woman was at home with her three-year-old son in Wyandotte, Okla. when she was awakened by a knock on her door. The homeowner peered outside, noticed a strange man at her door and retrieved a .22-caliber pistol. The man then began breaking into the home, making it through one of two locked doors; at which point the woman opened the inside door and fired a shot at the criminal.

The would-be burglar fled to a waiting getaway car and proceeded to cross the state line into Missouri. After viewing surveillance video of a nearby road, Missouri police were able to determine the criminal’s whereabouts and make an arrest. (The Joplin Globe, Joplin, Mo. 11/21/12)

Woman fights off two armed home invaders

A pair of armed intruders entered a home in St. Helena Island, S.C. and attempted to rob the 31-year-old woman who lives there. The homeowner responded by retrieving a gun and firing at the criminals, striking one and causing both to flee. The wounded criminal was discovered when he turned up at the Savannah Memorial University Medical Center seeking treatment; the other was captured a day later. The home invaders face charges of armed robbery and attempted murder. (The Beaufort Gazette, Beaufort, S.C. 10/30/12)

70-year-old woman scares off home invader

A 70-year-old woman was asleep in her Fayette County, W.V. home, when she was awakened by her burglar alarm. After arming herself with a .38-caliber revolver, the woman went to investigate. When she found the burglar, the criminal punched her in the face. The woman responded by firing at the home invader, causing him to flee.

Local law enforcement officials have been supportive of the homeowner’s actions, with Fayette County Sheriff Steve Kessler noting, “If the victim of the burglary had been unarmed she could have been seriously injured or killed when confronted by this burglar.” (The Register-Herald, Beckley, W.V. 10/12/12)

72-year-old fells home invader

72-year-old Jerry Duncan was asleep upstairs in his Lakeland Village, Calif. home when he was awakened by a loud noise. After getting up to investigate the sound, Duncan discovered that his power had been cut, so he retrieved a flashlight and made his way downstairs. Duncan noticed that an air conditioner had been pushed out of one of the windows, leaving it open, so he retrieved a pistol he had kept nearby and waited at the window. After about five minutes, a criminal attempted to come through the window, at which point Duncan fired, striking the man and causing him to flee. The home invader only made it about 15 feet before collapsing dead.

In recalling the incident, Duncan explained, “All I was thinking about was defending myself… I’m in no shape to fight anybody. I’m 72 years old.” (The Press Enterprise, Riverside County, Calif. 10/05/12)

63-Year-Old Cancer patient detains home invaders

63-year-old cancer patient Dixon Smith was at home in Laketon Township, Mich. when a pair of burglars broke into his house. Smith spotted one of the criminals walking by his front window, and then heard the burglars talking downstairs. After retrieving a shotgun, Smith confronted the intruders, ordering them to the ground. The burglars complied, and Smith held the pair until police could arrive.

According to Smith, the police response took “Kind of a long five to 10 minutes.” (MLive.com, Michigan, 09/21/12)

Employee wounds violent intruder

A 76-year-old employee at a real estate company in Everett, Wash. discovered an intruder at the office at around 9:15 a.m. The employee called 911, retrieved a gun and confronted the criminal, ordering him to stay put until police could arrive. The intruder refused, yelling at the employee and throwing office items at him. Eventually a scuffle broke out in which the employee fired at the criminal, striking him in the leg and causing him to flee. Police captured the intruder only a block away. (The Daily Herald, Everett, Wash. 08/30/12)

Man fells dangerous dog

After a dog owner lost control of her pit bull in Lewiston, Idaho, the dog ran off her property and attempted to attack a husband and wife out walking their dog. Recognizing the threat, the husband drew a pistol and shot the animal, ending the attack. The pit bull was taken to a local veterinary clinic, but later died.

Following the incident, Lewiston Police Department Captain Tom Greene made clear to local media, “If you’re in fear of your life, fear of your safety, and there is a well founded fear, you are able to defend yourself.” The pit bull was known to authorities, having been labeled a level one dangerous dog after it tried to attack a woman in 2011. (KLEW, Lewiston, Idaho, 08/14/12)

Elderly store owner fights off robbers

A group of five masked and armed robbers entered Continental Jewelry in Garden Grove, Calif. and threatened a customer and store employees. After spotting the criminals, the 65-year-old woman who owns the store retrieved a handgun and fired at the robbers through a slot in a security wall. The criminals fled to a getaway car as soon as the owner opened fire.

Criminals should think twice before planning a heist in Orange County, Calif. The attempted robbery in Garden Grove was the second incident in a week in which an Orange County jewelry store owner has defended a store with a gun. (The Orange County Register, Orange County, Calif. 08/01/12, The L.A. Times, Los Angeles, Calif. 08/02/12)

 Grandmother wounds home invader

A grandmother was getting dressed at her home in Sarasota, Fla. when she heard a knock at the door. Unable to answer the door at that moment, the homeowner ignored the knock. A few minutes later an intruder wearing a bandana broke-in through a glass door in the back of the house. Seeing the home invader, the homeowner retrieved a .38-caliber handgun and fired twice at the criminal, causing him to flee.

The police were able to locate the burglar after an anonymous tip led them to a nearby hospital where he sought treatment for a gunshot wound to his arm. A recording of the homeowner’s phone call to 911 reveals that she took no pleasure in her actions, as she told a dispatcher, “I’m so sorry. I would never hurt someone, but I was fearful of my life.” (WTSP, Tampa Bay, Fla. 07/10/12, The Sarasota Herald-Tribune, Sarasota, Fla. 07/10/12)

Homeowner defends family, wounds intruder

Vance T. Taylor was at home with his family in Idaho Falls, Idaho when the family dog alerted him to an intruder in the home’s bathroom. As his daughter called police, Taylor retrieved a gun and ordered the criminal to stay put. Disobeying the order, the home invader charged at Taylor, at which point Taylor opened fire, striking the criminal twice in the leg. The intruder fled the scene, but was captured a short time later at a nearby home. (KIDK, Idaho Falls, Idaho, 07/05/12)

H/T to Christopher W. Cox at NRA-ILA and for all he does for our Freedom.

cross posted at Granite Grok

On Anti-Gun Zombies And Purposeful Ignorance

“One cannot legislate the maniacs off the street… these maniacs can only be shut down by an armed citizenry. Indeed bad things can happen in nations where the citizenry is armed, but not as bad as those which seem to be threatening our disarmed citizenry in this country at this time.” —Col. Jeff Cooper, USMC, Firearms Instructor, Writer, Patriot

 

A liberal-progressive recently posited this to my friend and colleague Steve Mac Donald:

"So tell me, Steve -- do we need "open carry" to defend ourselves? Do we need machine guns to defend ourselves? Do we need clips that allow pumping out 100 bullets in a minute to defend ourselves? Do Legislators need to be armed in the State House? Is there no limit to any of it?"

 I always love questions such as this. Picture a croissant-eating vegan standing with crossed-arms, approving nods to one another. Libs, after all,   fancy themselves as, "smart people," and the enlightened, despite this specter of running on continual emotional fumes and vapid platitudes.

Liberals like these questions. To simply ask, "Do you need this type of gun or that type of gun? Seeking to appear open minded, such questions are a well-rehearsed soliloquy...mere Kabuki Theater....an attempt to shame, demean or belittle the one to whom the inquiry is directed.  A trap....and a silly one at that.  Moreover, such questions do not advance any honest dialog.  "Doofusness" (yeah, I made the word up) is the coloring flair of such liberals like Burton Cohen and other such anti-gun nuttery as Skip Murphy at Granite Grok outlined for us HERE.

The word, "need" is an opposing dualism to, "want." We need food, water, clothing and shelter. But we want nice houses, nice cars, Ipads and iPhones.  When an attacker has broken into ones' house and is face-to-face with the lawful and rightful owner of that home, threatening his or her life, family, or children,  one "needs" a means to thwart or stop that attack....preferably the instantaneous ability to apply a mere seven pounds, with a forefinger, thereby squirting the perpetrators brains out his ear.

The progressive-utopian  Gun Grabbers who advocate for bans that leave society completely unarmed, means a society where those who are weaker are dominated and oppressed by those of greater strength, might and brutality which is little more than a juxtaposition of civilized society.  A society where criminals rule the day, and the state gives hegemony to muggers, thieves, murders, rapists and pillagers.  "A Force Monopoly," As Marko Kloos describes it.

Confusion. That mast crop of the liberal argument against guns.  That is why liberals are all over the map on the second amendment and guns. Some continue to argue the self-perpetuating lie that, "people with guns in the home, end up having them used on them by their attackers." Its utter nonsense. Total Bollocks. Pure Tomfoolery and a foil to advance an anti-gun argument and made of whole cloth.

Its the stuff  anti-gun liberal TV and Movie magnates inject into their scripts and themes to advance the cultural notion that, "only the police and the military," need or should have guns.

Other liberals who are even bigger liars,  tell us "We (liberals) support the Second Amendment," but,  "We need to ban certain semi-automatic rifles, magazines that hold more than ten rounds." under the foil of reasonable gun policy. Perpetuation of lies that Semi-automatic rifles are used exponentially more than handguns in mass shootings. That simply isn't factual.

This is a machiavellian multi-generational tactic whereby liberals seek to ban certain guns while giving faux support for other guns to be kept by citizens....This is an effective tactic for sucking in those moderates...those sheeple who will fall for anything.... Those who buy the snake oil  of, "Sensible gun policy." But, when the next generation of progressives emerge, they will carry the guidon for banning the rest.

Make no mistake about it.  All progressives are all about a total gun ban. Gun bans are not about guns. They are about expanses of Government power.  This is tag-team wrestling. One anti-gun progressive argues that "no" guns are needed by anybody under any circumstance, except for the police, the Military, Health and Human Services and the IRS. When the tag is made,  liberals like Chuckie Schumer, Diane Feinstein and Andrew Cuomo step up and give lip service and support for the second Amendment as the moderating voices in the debate. Guns are as American as Motherhood and Apple Pie! they will tell you.

Welcome to the era of the Anti-Gun Zombies....For all the vast evidence: empirical, anecdotal, and statistical, the Anti-gun Zombies stick to their monotonous tired old mantras of the 1960's, 1970's and the 1980's. There is no new, novel or compelling argument favoring bans on any types of firearms, irrespective of their appearance and caliber.  These are Mantras: that is all they are. A Bullhorn Brigade of Brady Bunch Zombies.

cross-posted at Granite Grok